Minnie Driver Lives High in 'Lowlife'

Carl Franklin has signed on to direct the pilot, which Fox TV Studios has come on board to co-produce with Maverick TV and FX.

"Lowlife" stars Izzard and Driver as Wayne and Dahlia, a husband-and-wife duo of traveling con artists who, along with their three kids, wander the country in a group of Irish Travelers who live off the grid.

After Dahlia's release from prison, where she battled her drug addiction, the family decides to join the society and settle down in a suburban community.

Playwright Dmitry Lipkin penned the script for the pilot, which is exec produced by Izzard, Lipkin and Maverick's Guy Oseary, Michael Rosenberg and Mark Morgan.

Because Wayne and Dahlia are the central characters in the project, which centers on their marriage, finding the right co-star for Izzard was crucial, FX Networks president and general manager John Landgraf said.

"Its a very complicated marriage, and both characters are really strong, so we needed two actors who are perfectly matched up and can hold their own," he said. "Between Minnie and Carl coming on board to direct, I feel like we've got the two leads that we want, and we've got the director we want to exec the script."

"Lowlife" marks the first drama project that FX co-produces. The network already produces unscripted and comedy series, including "30 Days," the upcoming "Black. White." and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Production on the pilot is slated to begin in early March in New Orleans, which will double for Baton Rouge, La., where the show is set.

Driver, an Oscar nominee for her role in the 1997 film "Good Will Hunting," most recently appeared in Joel Schumacher's "The Phantom of the Opera."

Driver, who had a recurring role on the long-running NBC comedy "Will & Grace," is represented by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and attorney Kevin Morris.

Actor-turned-director Franklin, whose directing credits include the features "Devil in a Blue Dress," "Out of Time" and "High Crimes," also is repped by CAA.

Andrew Wallenstein contributed to this report.

Nellie Andreeva and Andrew Wallenstein write for The Hollywood Reporter.